Last revised: 09 Mar 2014
(Born abt. 1745 – Died abt. 1815)
Burket Rager, Sr. was born about 1745 in Berks Co. PA, his family moved from PA to VA about 1750 where they appear in Augusta, Frederick, and Berkley Co., VA records. In early records, his surname was spelled REAGER.
He served as a Capt. in Col. William Darke’s 4th VA Regiment and was present at the siege and surrender at Yorktown in 1781. Burket migrated to present day Jefferson Co., KY about 1786 where he appeared in their records; then moved to Nelson Co., KY where he is in their records between 1790-1792; and then to present day Hardin Co., KY by 1795. He had moved to Logan Co., KY by 1800. On 19 Jul 1800, Burket bought land in Logan Co., KY from Reason Bowie. Reason Bowie was the father of Jim Bowie, founder of the Bowie knife and a hero of Texas Independence who died at the Battle of the Alamo. That land is reported to be the birth place of Jim Bowie.
Burket Rager, Sr. died about 1815 in Logan Co., KY.